Hard shell fastening device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus includes a protective wearable article including a flexible backing layer and a semi-rigid shell layer. The hard shell layer includes a molded receptacle that acts as a female component in a dual-component fastening device. The apparatus further includes a strap for securing the protective wearable article to a user. A first end of the strap is attached to a male fastening component sized and shaped for insertion into and securement within the molded receptacle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claim benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/115,516, entitled “Hard Shell Fastening Device” and filed on Feb. 12, 2015, which is specifically incorporated by reference for all that it discloses or teaches.

BACKGROUND

A variety of protective wearable articles utilize straps in conjunction with fastening mechanism(s) to secure hard or rigid protective material to a user. For example, knee pads, helmets, googles, and body armor all make use of straps that may wrap around a user's appendage such as an arm, leg, or other body part (e.g., chinstrap, torso, etc.) to supply tension and help to secure the protective wearable article. Fastening mechanisms suitable for use in such technologies include without limitation hook and loop, latches, buckles, snaps, knotting (e.g., ties), plastic clips, etc. Some of these fastening mechanisms detach too easily, provide inadequate durability, or loosen too easily and fail to provide adequate tension to the protective wearable article.

SUMMARY

Implementations described and claimed herein address the foregoing by providing a protective wearable article with a hard shell layer including a molded receptacle. The molded receptacle is sized and shaped to receive and secure a male fastening component attached to a strap or other fastening appendage usable for securing the protective wearable article to a user.

Implementations described and claimed herein further address the forgoing by providing a method of attaching a protective wearable article to a user. The method includes placing the protective wearable article adjacent to a portion of a user and wrapping a strap around the portion of the user, the strap including a first end fixedly attached to the protective wearable article and a second free end attached to a male fastening component. The method further comprises inserting the male fastening component into a molded receptacle formed in a hard shell layer of the protective wearable article, and sliding the rigid protrusion element along a channel of the molded receptacle to secure the rigid protrusion element within the molded receptacle.

Still further implementations described and claimed herein address the foregoing by providing an apparatus that includes a protective wearable article with a soft backing layer and a hard shell layer. The hard shell layer includes an irregular-shaped aperture with a first diameter larger than another diameter of the irregular-shaped aperture. The apparatus further includes a strap for securing the protective wearable article to a user and a rigid protrusion element on a first end of the strap that is sized and shaped for insertion into and securement within the irregular-shaped aperture.

Other implementations are also described and claimed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of an example protective wearable article securable to a user via example dual-component fastening devices.

FIG. 2 illustrates another perspective view of an example protective wearable article attachable to a user via example dual-component fastening devices.

FIG. 3 illustrates another perspective view of an example protective wearable article attachable to a user via example dual-component fastening devices.

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear perspective view of yet another example protective wearable article suitable for implementing the disclosed technology.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of another example protective wearable article that includes a hard shell structure incorporating example female components of dual-component fastening devices.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example molded receptacle that may serve as a female portion of a dual-component fastening device that attaches a wearable protective article to a user.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a protective wearable article including an example dual-component fastening device.

FIG. 8 illustrates example operations for securing a protective wearable article to a user via a dual-component fastener device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of an example protective wearable article 100 securable to a user by example dual-component fastening devices 102, 104. The protective wearable article 100 is an article that protects a user from impact during an activity that poses a risk to bodily injury, such as athletic activity, transportation, work in hazardous areas, etc. In FIG. 1, the protective wearable article 100 is shown to be a contact-protection pad, such as a knee or elbow pad that can be attached to a human limb to provide impact protection during physical activity. However, the protective wearable article 100 may, in other implementations, be integrated into wearable technologies that protect other parts of a user including without limitation a user's torso (e.g., to secure body armor), head (e.g., as a helmet strap fastener), eyes (e.g., to secure googles); wrist, ankle, neck, back, groin, etc. (e.g., any type of medical or athletic brace).

In FIG. 1, the protective wearable article 100 includes the hard shell layer 106 and a backing layer 122. The hard shell layer 106 is a rigid or semi-rigid material that resists deformation by an applied contact force. For example, the hard shell layer 106 may have a hardness in the range of 90 shore A to 100 shore D. In one implementation, the hard shell layer 106 has a thickness between about 0.05 inches and 0.25 inches. The hard shell layer 106 may be made from a variety of suitable materials including without limitation plastics such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylic, polypropylene, polycarbonate, various thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), various non polymer materials such as aramid fiber (i.e., Kevlar), and composite materials such as fiberglass, carbon fiber, etc.

In contrast to the hard shell layer 106, the backing layer 122 is a more flexible layer, such as a layer designed for comfort and contact with a user's skin or clothing. The backing layer 122 provides a supporting interface between a body part of the user and the hard shell structure 106. In some implementations, the backing layer 122 includes materials and/or structures designed for temperature control, such as to keep a user cool and/or dry (e.g., a breathable fabric, mesh, etc.) or to trap heat and provide warmth (e.g., as an insulating material within a garments designed for outdoor use). In one implementation, the backing layer 122 includes a layer of elastically deformable void cells. For example, the backing layer 122 may be one or more layers of fabric, mesh, foam, thermoplastic urethane, thermoplastic elastomers, styrenic co-polymers, rubber, Dow Pellethane®, Lubrixol Estane®, Dupont™ Hytrel®, ATOFINA Pebax®, and Krayton polymers, etc. In some implementations, the protective wearable article 100 may not include the backing layer 122.

The dual-component fastening devices 102, 104 each include a first female component (e.g., molded receptacles 102 a, 104 a) formed within the protective wearable article 100 and a second male component (e.g., rigid protrusion elements 102 b, 104 b) attached to a corresponding attachment appendage 108 or 118. The attachment appendages 108, 118 are usable to secure the protective wearable article 100 to a user, but are not herein considered to be part of the protective wearable article 100 and do not necessarily provide impact protection to the user. In FIG. 1, the attachment appendages 108, 118 are flexible straps. In other implementations, the attachment appendages 108, 118 may have different characteristics depending on the nature of the wearable protective article 100 and the manner by which the wearable protective article 100 secures to a user. Some implementations may include a single attachment appendage in lieu of the two attachment appendages 108, 118; other implementations may include three or more attachment appendages. Likewise, some wearable protective articles may attach to a user with greater or fewer than the two illustrated dual-component fastening devices 102, 104.

In View A of FIG. 1, each of the rigid protrusion elements 102 b, 104 b of the dual-component fastening devices 102, 104 is attached to a free end of one of the attachment appendages 108, 118. The molded receptacles 102 a and 104 a of each of the dual-component fastening devices 102, 104 are formed within the hard shell layer 106 of the protective wearable article 100 and sized and shaped to receive and secure the corresponding rigid protrusion element 102 b, 104 b. Since the dual-component fastening devices 102 and 104 are shown to be substantially identical, further details of the disclosed technology are discussed with reference to the dual-component fastening device 102.

Although other shapes are contemplated, the rigid protrusion element 102 b of FIG. 1 has a mushroom-like shape including a stem portion 110 adjoined to a wide end portion 112. The wide end portion 112 has a diameter that is larger than a corresponding diameter of the stem portion 110. In one implementation, the wide end portion 112 defines a plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the stem portion 110. In other implementations, the wide end portion 112 is non-planar and/or defines a plane that is non-perpendicular relative to the stem portion 110. For example, the wide end portion 112 may be knob-like, curved, angled, etc.

In some implementations, the rigid protrusion element 102 b does not include the stem portion 110. For example, the wide end portion 112 may be a button sewn or otherwise attached to a soft or hard backing. In other implementations, the rigid protrusion element 102 b may take on a variety of other shapes and sizes.

The molded receptacle 102 a includes at least one aperture (e.g., an inlet or cut out) for receiving and securing the rigid protrusion element 102 b. In FIG. 1, the aperture of the molded receptacle 102 a is of an irregular shape with a perimeter encompassing a conjoined two-part internal area including an insertion area 114 and a locking area 116. A diameter of the aperture at the locking area 116 is smaller than a corresponding diameter of the aperture at the insertion area 114. In other implementations, the molded receptacle 102 assumes other of shapes and/or sizes. In at least one implementation, the molded receptacle 102 a is heat-molded during a thermoforming process. In another implementation, the molded receptacle 102 a is molded during an injection molding process. In still another implementation, the aperture of the molded receptacle 102 a is cut into the hard shell structure 106 during a secondary operation after a molding process.

Referring to View B of FIG. 1, the insertion area 114 of the molded receptacle 102 a has a diameter D1 that exceeds a corresponding diameter of the wide end portion 112 of the rigid protrusion element 102 b. In addition, a diameter D2 at the locking area 116 of the molded receptacle 102 a is smaller than the corresponding diameter of the wide end portion 112 and larger than a diameter of the stem portion 110. Consequently, the rigid protrusion element 102 b can be threaded through the hard shell structure 106 at the insertion area 114 and moved within the aperture such that the stem portion 110 rests within the locking area 116 while the attachment appendage 108 and the wide end portion 112 are positioned on opposite sides of the hard shell structure 106. In this position, the wide end portion 112 contacts a back surface (not shown) of the hard shell structure 106, resisting detachment from the hard shell structure 106 when a user applies a force on the rigid protrusion element 102 b in a direction normal to the hard shell structure 106.

To place the dual-component fastening device 102 in an attached state, a user threads the rigid protrusion element 102 b through the insertion area 114 of the molded receptacle 102 a so that the hard shell structure 106 is positioned between first and second ends of the rigid protrusion element 102 b. Once the rigid protrusion element 102 b is partially threaded through the insertion area 114, the user repositions (e.g., slides) the rigid protrusion element 102 b along a length of the molded receptacle 102 a (in the direction of an arrow ‘A’ in FIG. 1) and toward the locking area 116 until the stem portion 110 of the rigid protrusion element rests within the locking area 116. When the stem portion 110 of the rigid protrusion element 102 b rests within the locking area 116, a perimeter of the wide end portion 112 may rest adjacent to a back side (not shown) of the hard shell structure 106.

In FIG. 1, the molded receptacle 102 a also includes a locking feature to hold the rigid protrusion element 102 b securely in place once resting within the locking area 116. Although other implementations may employ different locking mechanisms, this example locking feature is provided by relative dimensions of the stem portion 110 and of the molded receptacle 102 a. Again referring to View B, the aperture of the molded receptacle 102 b has a largest diameter at D1 in the insertion area 114, a next largest diameter at D2 in the locking area 116, and a smallest diameter D3 in a gap area between the locking area 116 and the insertion area 114. If the stem portion 110 of the rigid protrusion element 102 b has a diameter just slightly larger than the diameter D3 of the gap area, the stem portion 110 may be capable of elastically deforming edge regions of the molded receptacle 102 b out of the way under an applied force. For example, the stem portion 110 may be threaded through the insertion area 114 and pushed in a direction indicated by an arrow “A” through the gap area at D3 to elastically deform edge regions of the molded receptacle 102 a. In this case, the elastically deformed material of the hard shell layer 106 may “snap” back into its original position as the stem portion 110 moves into the locking area 116, effectively securing the stem portion 110 within the locking area 116 absent an applied for in a direction opposite the arrow A.

To facilitate the elastic deformation described above, the hard shell layer 106 may be “semi-rigid” rather than rigid. In other implementations where the hard shell layer 106 is rigid, other locking mechanisms may be employed.

In some implementations, the stem portion 110 of the rigid protrusion element 102 b has a diameter less than the diameter D2 of the locking area 116 such that the stem portion 110 can freely rotate when resting within the locking area 116. In other implementaitons, it may be desirable to prevent the stem portion 110 of the rigid protrusion element 102 b from rotating when secured in place within the locking area 116 of the molded receptacle 102 b. To address this consideration, the stem portion 110 of the rigid protrusion element 102 b and the molded receptacle 102 a can be formed of other (e.g., non-circular) complimentary shapes that facilitate coupling of the two elements while preventing rotation of either component relative to the other. For example, the stem portion 110 may be prohibited from rotating while positioned within the locking area 116 if the stem portion 110 and perimeter of the locking area 116 are of a same polygonal shape (e.g., rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc.).

In the illustrated implementation, the dual-component fastening device 102 functions to secure the attachment appendage 108 (e.g., a flexible strap) around a user's arm or leg. When the attachment appendage 108 is taught about a portion of the user (e.g., arm, leg, wrist, chin, torso, etc.) the attachment appendage 108 applies an additional force on the dual-component fastening device 102 in the direction of the arrow ‘A.’ This additional force assists in further securing the rigid protrusion element 102 b within the locking area 116 of the hard shell structure 106. In some implementations, the attachment appendage 108 is not a flexible strap. For example, the attachment appendage 108 may be a rigid component to which the rigid protrusion element 102 b is attached or formed within. In FIG. 1, the wearable device 100 further includes an adjustment component 118 that can be optionally tightened to further secure the rigid protrusion element 102 b within the locking area 116.

In various implementations, the flexible backing portion 122 attaches to the hard shell structure 106 in different ways, such as at one or more points (not shown) along the perimeter of the hard shell structure 106. In at least one implementation, the flexible backing portion 122 does not attach to the hard shell structure 106 within an area 120 surrounding the molded receptacle 102 b. This allows the wide end portion 112 of the molded receptacle 102 a to rest between the hard shell structure 106 and the flexible backing portion 122 at the locking area 116 when placed in the secured position. Some implementations may not include the flexible backing portion 122.

FIG. 2 illustrates another perspective view of a protective wearable article 200 (e.g., a kneepad) attachable to a user via example dual-component fastening devices 202, 204 and straps 208, 210. Each of the dual-component fastening devices 202 and 204 includes a male component (e.g., rigid protrusion elements 202 b, 204 b) that can be removeably secured within a corresponding female component (e.g., molded receptacles 202 a, 204 a, respectively). In some implementations, the protective wearable article 200 includes or incorporates the male components of the dual-component fastening devices 202, 204 rather than the female components. For example, the rigid protrusion elements 202 b, 204 b may be molded into the hard shell structure 206 or separately formed and subsequently attached, such as via an adhesive or mounting structure. However, protective wearable articles with male components formed in or attached to the hard shell structure 206 tend to be less durable and/or more expensive to produce than the design of FIG. 2, which integrates the female components directly into the protective wearable article 200.

The hard shell structure 206 is attached to a backing layer 222 that provides an interface between a portion of the user's body and the rigid protrusion elements 202 b, 204 b when mated with the corresponding molded receptacle 202 a and 204 a. Specific details of the dual-component fastening devices 202, 204 not described above may be the same or substantially similar to the dual-component fastening devices described with respect to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates another perspective view of a protective wearable article 300 attachable to a user via dual-component fastening devices 302, 304 and straps 308, 310. Each of the dual-component fastening devices 302, 304 is shown in a secured position with a rigid protrusion element (not shown) threaded through a corresponding molded receptacle 302 a or 304 a. The molded receptacles 302 a, 304 a are formed directly within a hard shell structure 306 of the protective wearable article 300. Although not visible in FIG. 3, each of the molded receptacles 302 a, 304 a may include an aperture with a wider diameter portion at an insertion area and a narrow diameter portion at a locking area. Easy release tabs 318 and 320 can be pulled in the direction of a vector originating within the locking area and extending in the direction of the insertion area (e.g., as indicated by the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3) to aid in removing the rigid protrusion elements from the corresponding molded receptacle 302 a or 302 b. Other details of the dual-component fastening devices 302, 304 not described above may be the same or substantially similar to the dual-component fastening devices described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear perspective view of a protective wearable article 400 attachable to a user via straps 408, 410 and dual-component fastening devices (not shown). In one implementation, the protective wearable article 400 is a same article as the protective wearable article 300, illustrated in FIG. 3. Each of the straps 408 and 416 includes a rigid protrusion element (not shown) on a first end that can be removably secured within a corresponding molded receptacle (not shown) formed on a front side of a hard shell structure (not shown). A second end of the straps 408 and 416 is non-removeably attached to the protective wearable article 400, such as via stitching to a backing layer 422, adhesive to the hard shell structure, or any other suitable method of attachment. When the straps 408 and 416 are secured in place around a user's body part (e.g., arm, leg, etc.), tightening either of the straps, such as via adjustment components 418 and 424, serves to further secure the attached the rigid protrusion element within the corresponding molded receptacle.

FIG. 5 illustrates another perspective view of a protective wearable article 500 that includes a hard shell structure 506 incorporating example female components (e.g., molded receptacles 502 a, 502 b) of two dual-component fastening devices. In one implementation, the protective wearable article 500 includes straps (not shown) with free ends attached to male components for mating with the molded receptacles 502 a, 504 a. Guiding structures 524, 526 protrude outward from the hard shell structure 500 providing ridges that help guide the corresponding male components into the molded receptacles 502 a, 502 b.

In various implementations, the guiding structures 524, 526 may be shaped differently; however, in FIG. 5, each of the guiding structures 524, 526 forms a protruded rim partially encircling a portion of a locking area 514 of the molded receptacle 502 a. This rim effectively reduces a diameter of the locking area 514 on an outward-facing surface of the hard shell structure 506 as compared to a diameter of the locking area 514 on an opposite surface of the hard shell structure 506. First and second ends of each of the guiding structures 524, 526 are separated from one another by a distance greater than a diameter of an insertion area 516 of the molded receptacles 502 a, 502 b. These ends approach one another in proximity with distance in a direction of a vector originating at the insertion area 516 and extending to the locking area 514.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example molded receptacle 600 that may serve as a female portion of a dual-component fastening device that operates to attach a wearable protective article to a user. The molded receptacle 600 is integrated within a hard shell structure 606 (e.g., a rigid or semi-rigid structure) including an aperture 602. The aperture 602 further includes an insertion area 614 and a locking area 616.

In one implementation, the molded receptacle 600 is sized and shape to mate with a male fastening element, such as the rigid insertion elements shown in FIGS. 1-2. The molded receptacle 600 includes a guiding structure (e.g., a lipped guiding portion 620) that protrudes outward from a generally planar surface of the hard shell structure 606 and extends over the aperture 602, providing a track for receiving and guiding a corresponding male fastening element into the aperture 602. A diameter of the aperture 602 exposed at the insertion area 614 is wider than a diameter exposed at the locking area 616. This geometry may help to secure the male fastening element within the molded receptacle 600.

In operation, a male fastening element may be inserted into the molded receptacle 600 laterally through the portion of the aperture 602 exposed at the insertion area 614. The male fastening element can be guided in the same direction as the lateral insertion until a portion of the male fastening element rests within the locking area 616. At this position, a geometric mismatch between the size of the aperture 602 at the locking area 616 and a comparatively large diameter of an end portion of the male fastening component serves to prevent the fastening component from detaching from the molded receptacle 602, such as when the male fastening component is pulled in a direction normal to the hard shell structure 606. When integrated into a protective wearable article, a strap may supply outward tension on the male fastening component (e.g., in the direction of a vector originating at the insertion area 614 and extending to the locking area 616). This strap tension may also help to secure the male fastening component within the molded receptacle 602.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a protective wearable article 700 including an example dual-component fastening device 702 in a secured position. The protective wearable article 700 includes a hard shell layer 706 and a soft backing layer 722. The dual-component fastening devices is formed by a molded receptacle (not shown) formed within the hard shell layer 706 and a rigid protrusion element 702 a sized and shaped to mate with the molded receptacle 702 b. When secured within the molded receptacle 702 b, a wide end portion 712 of the rigid protrusion element rests between the hard shell layer 706 and the soft backing layer 722, as shown, while a stem portion 710 of the rigid protrusion element rests within an aperture of the molded receptacle.

FIG. 8 illustrates example operations for securing a protective wearable article to a user via a dual-component fastener device. A placement operation 805 places a protective wearable article adjacent to a portion of a user's body. In one implementation, the protective wearable article includes a hard shell layer and a backing layer. The placement operation 805 places the backing layer in contact with the user's clothing or skin at a desired location. For example, the desired location may be a location wherein the hard shell layer aligns with the user's kneecap, elbow, wrist, skill, or other protectable structure.

A wrapping operation 810 wraps a strap around the portion of the user's body near the location selected via the placement operation 805. The strap includes a first end attached to the protective wearable article (e.g., via stitching, adhesive, or other fixed or selectively detachable attachment mechanism). For example, a first end of the strap may be attached to a perimeter portion of the wearable protective article. A second free end of the strap includes or is further attached to a male fastening component, such as a rigid protrusion element. The strap and the rigid protrusion element may be attached to one another by any reliable attachment mechanism or means. The wrapping operation 810 may, for example, wrap the strap around a user's arm, leg, torso, wrist, ankle, chin, head, etc.

An insertion operation 815 inserts the male fastening component into a molded receptacle formed in the hard shell layer of the protective wearable article. In one implementation, the molded receptacle is formed at a perimeter region of the wearable protective article that opposes another perimeter region where the first end of the strap attaches to the wearable protective article. The molded receptacle includes an aperture, and the insertion operation 815 inserts the male fastening component into the aperture at an insertion area having a diameter larger than a diameter of at least one other region of the aperture.

A sliding operation 820 slides the male fastening component along a channel of the molded receptacle to secure the male fastening component in the locking area. In one implementation, the channel connects the insertion area of the aperture to a locking area of the aperture, and the locking area has a smaller diameter than the insertion area. Further, the locking area may be closer to a perimeter of the protective wearable article than the insertion area. Thus, the sliding operation 820 may entail sliding the male fastening component within the channel toward the perimeter of the protective wearable article (e.g., as described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 6, above). In some implementations, the molded receptacle may include guiding structures (e.g., protrusions, ridges, flanges, lips, etc.) that help to guide the male fastening component within the channel. When resting within the locking area of the molded receptacle, a wide base portion of the male fastening component may rest between the hard shell structure and the backing layer while a narrower stem portion rests within the diameter at the locking area.

A tension in the strap wrapped against the user transfers a force that acts to further secure the male fastening component within the locking area of the molded receptacle. When positioned within the locking area, a user may not be able to remove the rigid protrusion element from the molded receptacle by applying a force on the attachment appendage in a direction that is normal to the hard shell structure. However, the male fastening component may be released from the molded receptacle via a force that pushes the male fastening component in a direction of the insertion area. In one implementation, easy release tabs, handles, or other ‘easy grab’ components are included to supply a point of leverage for detaching the male fastening component from the corresponding female receptacle.

The logical operations making up the embodiments of the invention described herein are referred to variously as operations, steps, objects, or modules. Furthermore, it should be understood that logical operations may be performed in any order, adding or omitting operations as desired, unless explicitly claimed otherwise or a specific order is inherently necessitated by the claim language. The above specification, examples, and data provide a complete description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. Furthermore, structural features of the different embodiments may be combined in yet another embodiment without departing from the recited claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus comprising: a protective wearable article including a flexible backing layer and a semi-rigid shell layer, the semi-rigid shell layer including a molded receptacle; and a strap for securing the protective wearable article to a user, the strap including a male fastening component on a first end, the male fastening component sized and shaped for insertion into and securement within the molded receptacle.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the molded receptacle includes an aperture having a first diameter at an insertion area and a second diameter at a locking area, the second diameter smaller than the first diameter.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the diameter of the aperture at the insertion area is greater than a diameter of both ends of the male fastening component.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the diameter of the aperture at the locking area is greater than a corresponding diameter of a first end of the male fastening component and less than a corresponding diameter of a second opposite end of the male fastening component.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the male fastening component is rigid and has a mushroom-like shape with a stem portion and a flat base portion.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the stem portion has a diameter that exceeds a third diameter of the aperture bridging a gap area between the insertion area and the locking area.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the semi-rigid shell layer further includes at least one protrusion to help guide the male fastening component into the molded receptacle.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the molded receptacle is positioned proximal to a first edge of the semi-rigid shell layer and the strap is fixedly attached to a point on the wearable protective article that is proximal to a second opposite edge of the semi-rigid shell layer.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective layer includes two straps and two molded receptacles, each of the straps attached to a male fastening component for insertion into and securement within a corresponding one of the two molded receptacles.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the strap further comprises a pull tab to assist in releasing the rigid protrusion element from the molded receptacle.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective wearable article is at least one of a knee or elbow pad.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective wearable article is a helmet.
 13. A method of attaching a protective wearable article to a user, the method comprising: placing the protective wearable article adjacent to a portion of a user, the protective wearable article including a semi-rigid shell layer and a flexible backing layer; wrapping a strap around the portion of the user user, the strap including a first end fixedly attached to the protective wearable article and a second free end attached to a male fastening component; inserting the male fastening component into an aperture formed in the semi-rigid shell layer such that a portion of the male fastening component rests between the flexible backing layer and the semi-rigid shell layer; and sliding the male fastening component along a channel of the aperture to secure the rigid protrusion element within the channel.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the aperture has a first diameter at an insertion area and a second diameter at a locking area, the second diameter smaller than the first diameter.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second diameter at the locking area is greater than a diameter of a first end of the male fastening component and less than a diameter of a second opposite end of the male fastening component.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the male fastening component has a mushroom-like shape with a stem portion and a flat base portion.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the stem portion has a diameter that exceeds a third diameter of the aperture bridging a gap area between the insertion area and the locking area.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein the semi-rigid shell layer further includes at least one guiding structure forming a track or ridge for guiding the male fastening component into the molded receptacle.
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein the strap further comprises a pull tab for releasing the male fastening component from the molded receptacle.
 20. An apparatus comprising: a protective wearable article including a flexible backing layer and a semi-rigid shell layer, the semi-rigid shell layer including an aperture with a first diameter at an insertion area and a second diameter at a locking area, the first diameter larger than the second diameter; a strap for securing the protective wearable article to a user, the strap including a rigid protrusion element on a first end, the rigid protrusion element sized for insertion into the insertion area of the aperture and shaped for removable securement within the locking area.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein a portion of the rigid protrusion element rests between the flexible backing layer and the semi-rigid shell layer when secured within the aperture.
 22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the semi-rigid shell layer further includes at least one guiding structure forming a track or ridge for guiding the rigid protrusion element into the aperture. 